Effects of subanesthetic concentration of sevoflurane on plasticity of dendritic spines in prefrontal cortex neurons of juvenile rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effects of subanesthetic concentration of sevoflurane on the plasticity of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex neurons of juvenile rats.Methods:Thirty-six clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 24 days, weighing 50-60 g, were divided into control group (group C) and sevoflurane anesthesia group (group S) using a random number table method, with 18 rats in each group.Group S inhaled 1.2% sevoflurane and 50% oxygen (flow rate 1 L/min) for 3 h, while group C inhaled 50% oxygen (flow rate 1 L/min) for 3 h. Open-field test and Morris water maze test were performed at 3 days after anesthesia.Animals were sacrificed, and brain samples were then taken for determination of the number of apoptotic neurons in layer Ⅱ-Ⅲ of the prefrontal cortex, density of dendritic spines, and expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 and gephyrin by TUNEL staining, Golgi staining or Western blot.Results:Compared with group C, no significant change was found in total distance or time of staying at the central region in the open-field test or the average swimming velocity, escape latency or the number of apoptotic neurons in the Morris water maze test ( P>0.05), and the density of dendritic spines was significantly increased, and the expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 and gephyrin was up-regulated in group S ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Subanesthetic concentration of sevoflurane can enhance the plasticity of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex neurons of juvenile rats.